On October 16, 2014, Professor Alan Boudreau and attorney Ralph Hardesty--a graduate of NIU's College of Education in 1970--presented on negotiation and settlement at the 2014 Illinois Legal Aid Advocates Conference. The panel, Negotiation and Settlement: From Theory to Practice, examined common questions and problems that arise in legal negotiations. Professor Boudreau discussed how negotiation theory can help lawyers improve their negotiation preparation, understand what is happening during a negotiation, and develop stronger negotiating skills that lead to better settlements for clients. The Illinois Legal Aid Advocates Conference is designed to help legal aid advocates learn, discuss and share information about legal aid practice. The 2014 conference was sponsored by the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois (LTF), the Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF), the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), and the Polk Bros. Foundation.